Cutting tool



Patented June 24, 1941 OFFICE A CUTTING TOOL George J. Barrett andfiosthene l1" hicha;

Houston Tex.

Amman Nmmber use, stun wt. twists (El. l

21 Cl 11 to t.

This invention relates to a cutting tool and has particular relation tothat type of cutting tool specially designed for cutting through acasino or pipe set in a well bore and for completely relnovlnu a sectionof said casing or pipe.

lit is another object of the invention to provide a cutting tool of thecharacter described having a plurality of series of knives or cuttersarranged to he brought into cutting relation with the pipe to he removedin succession so that when the lrnives of one series become worn out theknives oi another series may be applied to the work and the cuttingoperation thus continued without substantial interruption until thesection to be cut out has been removed.

It is another object of the invention to provide novel means forretracting the knives of one series when it is desired to bring theknives of another series into action.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a cutting tool, novelmeans for bringing the cutters into action.

The invention herein disclosed constitutes certain improvements overthat type 0! Cutting tool disclosed in ounce-pending application, SerialNo. 208,362, filed May 1'7, 1938, which matured into Patent No.2,199,020,dated April 30, 1940.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features 01- construction,'operation andarrangement or parts, examples of which are given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompartying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 shows afragmentary. side elevation of the cutting tool, partly in section,showing the cutting knives retracted.

l icure 2 shows a vertical, sectional view showlnw the tool in action.

l luure 3 shows a vertical, sectional view showint: the tool in positionto retract a worn set oi.

hnlvcs and to luring the next succeeding set into action.

l lc'ure t shows a cross-scctional view taken on the line t--t ot Floorsl.

ll iuure 5 shows a fragmentary, plan view at a series ol cutters.

hlwuro t; shows a crws-sectionul view taken on the line t t ot l 'lcurel.

ll luurc l shows a vertical, sectional View oil onothcr emhodlnient otthe invention showing the ltnlves in inactive position.

l itfure t shows a similar view otsaid embodilncnt showinu the lives inactive position, and

Figure l) shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line t of Figure 8.

' Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein lilre numeralsol reference dealshate the same parts in each at the figures, thenumeral l designates a tubular operating st such as a drill stein whichextends to the ground surface and to the lower end of which the tubularcoupling 2 is connected. Within the lower end of the drill stem there isa cylinder 8 whose lower end has an external, annular flange l which isthreaded into the box at the upper end of said coupling and which isclamped in said box by means of the threaded pin on the lower end of thedrill stem l whereby the cylinder is anchored securely in place. Thereis a mandrel 5 whose upper end is formedwith a plunger I head'has theradial blade slots ll extended therethrough whose lower sides declineoutwardly. The cutter blades I! work through said slots. The heads havethe external lugs it which bear against the rear sides or the blades orcutters to reinforce them during operation as more clearly shown inFigure 6.

As more clearly shown in Figure 5 the inner ends or the respectiveblades or cutters are widened and inwardly beveled so as to ht closelytogather when the cutters are retracted. The cutters or a series arenormally held retracted by means ot an elastic hand Ill, term a tie,which passes through the eyes it oithe cutters. The series or cuttershave the vertically oiled central hearincs it to receive the snide rod dand expander l as shown in 1 "es l, 2 and 3.

Each headhas a removuhle wear rin as t driven therein and termed oisuitable wear reslstins material positioned to support the or ends orthe cutters when the cutters are no the position. The hladcs or cuttershave the transverse pins ti us ore accurately shown in Figures l and cto limit their outward movement. The hlades or each series will henormally sup-- ported by the correspondinu wear ring and maintained inradial, horlsonl, position hy means of the corresponding tie it.

The tool may be assembled as shown in Figure 1 and let down into thecasing to be cut. However, before lowering the tool it is preferable tocut out a short section of the casing by another type of cutting tool,for example, such as that shown in our copending application abovereferred to. When the tool has been lowered into the position shown inFigure 1, fluid under pressure may be exerted by a pump at the groundsurface against the upper end of the plunger 6, forcing the mandrel 5and expander i. downwardly until the external annular shoulder 22 on Vthe mandrel, formed by the reduction of the lower end thereof, engagesthe inner end of the gradually cut away the upper end of the lowersection of casing until the cutters have become dulled or completelyworn away. The weight of the operating stem I on the cutters may beregulated as desired to give the desired result.

When the upper series of cutters have been worn out, the pump may bestopped and the cutting tool may be elevated into the position shown inFigure 3, the outer ends of said cutters engaging against the lower endof the upper section of the casing. Upon such engagement the irmer endsof the cutters will be moved upwardly and outwardly, the ties l1yielding to permit this. until said tie comes into contact with and issevered by the blade 24 on the inner side of the head 8 whereupon theouter ends of the cutters will drop into inactive position so as not toengage against and hang on the inside wall of the casing during thesubsequent operation of the tool. This elevation of the tool will carrythe next succeeding series of cutters beneath opposite the cut awayportion of the casing and the pump may be again started forcing themandrel 5 and expander I iurther downwardly and expanding this nextsucceeding series of cutters into position to operate on the upper endof the lower section of casing and the tool may then be lowered untilsaid cutters are in contact with said upper end and then rotated and thecutting operation proceeded with as before until said cutters are dulledor worn away and the tool may be elevated as before and the nextsucceeding series of cutters brought 'into action as hereinaboveexplained until the cut is completed. Only three series of cutters areshown in the present illustration although any number of series desiredmay be employed.

It is stated above that the initial cut through the casing should bemade by another type of cutting tool before lowering the type of toolherein disclosed into the casing to proceed with the work. It is notabsolutely necessary that said initial cut be made before lowering thepresent type of tool into the casing. If it is desired the present typeof tool may be lowered to the point where the cut is to be made. When ithas reached the desired point where the cut is to be made, fluid underpressure may be applied to the plunger 6 and the upper series of cuttersexpanded into contact with the inside of the cas ng and the tool rotateduntil the casing has been severed, whereupon the plunger 6 and mandrel 5will move on down to fully expand the upper series of cutters into theposition shown in Figure 2 and the cutting operation may then beproceeded with and the series of cutters beneath may be brought intoaction. successively from above downwardly as the cutters of thepreceding series are dulled or worn away.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 there is an assembly oftubular cutter heads 25, 26, 21, detachably secured together and theupper one of which is detachably secured to the coupling 2. These cutterheads have the radial slots 28 whose lower sides decline outwardly andpivotally mounted in these slots are the cutters 29 having the inwardextensions 30 which project inwardly beyond the pivots. Arranged axiallywithin the head assembly there is the mandrel 3i whose lower end issupported on a coil spring 32 which is inclosed within the lower head2'! and which is supported on the plug 33 which is screwed into thelower end of the head 27. The lower end of thehead 21 has the verticalchannels 36 leading downwardly therethrough for the passage of anoperating fluid, such as water, downwardly into the casing to maintaincirculation during the cutting operation.

Secured within the upper end of the head 26 there is a cylinder 35. Themandrel 3! has the upper, intermediate, and lower heads 36, 31 and 38arranged to engage above the inner extensions 30 as shown in Figures 7and 8. When the cutters are in retracted position as shown in Figure '7,the head 36 will engage against and close the lower end of the cylinder35. Before lowering this type of cutter into the well, a section of thecasing should be cut away, as illustrated in Figure 7, by another typeof tool, such, for example, as that disclosed in our co-pendingapplication above referred to. The cutter may then be lowered into thewell into the position shown in Figure 7 with the cutters opposite thecutout portion of the casing. Fluid under pressure, may then be forcedby a pump at the ground surface down through the drill stem and cylinder35 thus forcing the mandrel 3! downwardly and expanding the cutters intothe position shown in Figure 8. The drill stem may then be let downuntil the lower series of cutters are in contact with the upper end ofthe lower section of the casing and the tool may be rotated thus cuttingaway said lower section and this operation may continue until theoperative portions of the lower series of cutters are entirely worn awaythus allowing said cutters to enter the casing and the tool may then belowered into the position shown in Figure 8 until the next succeedingseries of cutters above engage the upper end of the lower section ofeasing. In Figure 8 this series of cutters is shown in action with thecutters partially worn away. When the operative ends of these cutmrs arecompletely worn away the tool may be further lowered until the upperseries of cutters come into contact with the casing and the workproceeded with as before until all of the series of cutters are wornaway or the cut completed whereupon on elevation of the tool the spring32 will operate to elevate the mandrel 3i and retract the cutters intothe position shown in Figure 7 and the tool may then be withdrawn fromthe well.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broadprinciple of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

radial cutters thereon, a continuous elastic'band What we claim is:

1. A cutting tool adapted to cut byrotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced cuttingmeans, each of said cutting means having an effective cutting diametergreater than the diameter of the pipe being cut and means to bring saidcutting means successively into cutting relation with the end of a wellpipe beneath whereby said pipe will be cut away from above downwardly asthe tool is fed downwardly.

, 2. A cutting tool adapted to cut byv rotation and shaped to enter apipe in a well and comprising cutting means spaced apart vertically andmeans effective to successively engage and actuate the cutting meansoutwardly into cutting position relative to the upper end of the wellpipe to operate on said end in succession as the tool is fed downwardly.

3. A cutting tool shaped to enter a pipe in a well and comprisingcutting means spaced apart vertically and movable outwardly into cuttingposition relative to the upper end of a lower cut off section of thewell pipe, means for actuating the cutting means, in succession, fromabove downwardly, into cutting relation with said upper end.

4. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a head assembly, a plurality of cutting meansthereon movable inwardly into inactive position and outwardly intoactive position and means eifective to successively actuate the cuttingmeans outwardly into active, or cutting; position relative to the upperend or the well pipe to operate on said end in succession as the tool isfed downwardly.

5. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter apipein a well and comprising a head assembly, a plurality of cutting meansthereon movable inwardly into inactive position and outwardly intoactive position and means effective to successively actuate the cuttingmeans outwardly into active, or cutting, position relative to the upperend of the well pipe to operate'on said end in succession as the tool isfed downwardly and an operating string for manipulating the tool.

6. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a head, a plurality of cutters spaced apartvertically thereon and movable inwardly into inactive position andoutwardly into active position intocutting relation with the upper endof a section of pipe beneath, means for actuating the cutters intoactive position, successively, from above downwardly said section willbe completely removed by the cutters in succession as the tool is moveddownwardly.

7. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a head, a plurality of cutters spaced apartvertically thereon and movable inwardly into inactive position andoutwardly into active position into cutting relation with the upper endof a section or pipe beneath, means for actuating the cutters intoactive position, successively, from above downwardly whereby said upperend of said section will be completely removed by the cutters insuccession as the tool is moved downwardly, said ing retractable toinactive position by the lower end of the section of well pipe above,upon upward movement of the tool.

8. in a pipe cutting tool a head, a series of whereby said upper end oivcutters, when in active position, be-v connecting the cutters or theseries and normally maintaining them in inactive position and means formoving the cutters of the series outwardly into active position.

9. In a pipe cutting tool a head, a series of radial cutters thereon, anelastic tie member connecting the cutters of the series and normallymaintaining them ininactive position and means operable against theinner ends of the cutters of the series and arranged to be operated byan operating fluid under pressure and effective to move the cuttersoutwardly into active position, said cutters, when in active position,being retractable by the lower end of the section of the well pipeabove, upon upward movement of the tool and means in the tool forsevering the tie member upon such retraction of the cutters.

10. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a head assembly, cutting means thereon spacedapart vertically and each having an effective cutter diameter greaterthan the diameter of the well pipe, and means arranged to be operated byfluid under pressure and effective to bring said cutting meanssuccessively into cutting relation with the end of a well pipe beneathwhereby said. pipe will be cut away from above downwardly as the tool isfed downwardly.

11. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation enter a pipe in a well andcom- 12. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter apipe in a well and comprising a head'assembly, a plurality of cuttingmeans thereon movable inwardly into inactive position and outwardly intoactive position and means arranged to be operated by fluid underpressure and including means to successively engage with the cuttingmeans to actuate the cutting means outwardly into active, or cutting,po-

sition, relative to the upper end of the well pipe to operate on saidendin'succession as the tool is ted 'downwardly, said cutters, when inactive position, being mounted to be released from the actuating meansand retractable to inactive position by the lower end of the section ofthe well pipe above upon upward movement of the tool. 13. A cutting tooladapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipe in a well andcomprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced cutting means, each ofsaid cutting means having an effective cutting diameter greater than thediameter of the pipe being cut, and means operatively connected with thecutting means and effective to bring said cutting means successivelyinto cutting relation with the end ot a well pipe beneath whereby saidpipe will be cut away from above downwardly as the tool is feddownwardly.

14. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced cutters,means effective to actuate a predetermined number of cuttersindependently of the other cutters into active' or cutting pipe.

15. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation assembly, a plurality ofcutting movable inwardly into inactive position relative to the well andshaped to enter a pipe in-a well and comprising a plurality of cuttersspaced longitudinally apart on the tool, means for actuating the cuttersinto active or cutting position, said cutters being arranged to limitmovement of the actuating means whereby a predetermined number ofcutters are actuated simultaneously, said cutters being mounted torelease the actuating means by the lower end of the section of the wellpipe above upon upward movement of the tool.

16. A cutting'tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a plurality of cutters spaced longitudinallyapart on the tool, means for actuating the cutters into active orcutting position, said cutters being arranged to limit movement of theactuating means whereby a predetermined number of cutters are actuatedsimultaneously, said out-- ters being mounted to release the actuatingmeans to allow more cutters to be actuated by the actuating means and beretracted to inactive position by the lower end of the section of thewell pipe above upon upward movement of the tool.

17. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a cutter support, cutters spaced apartvertically on the support and movable into active and inactivepositions, each cutter being of a length to extend out radially to theoutside of the pipe to be cut when said cutter is in active position tocompletely remove a section of the pipe upon rotation of the tool andmeans for bringing the cutters into active position successively wherebya cutter will continue the work of the preceding cutter upon thelowering and rotation of the .tool.

18'. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter apipe in a. well and comprising a cutter support, cutters spaced apartvertically on the support and movable into active and inactivepositions, each cutter being oi a length to extend out radially to theoutside of the pipe to be cut when the cutter is in active position soas to completely remove a section of the pipe upon rotation of the tooland means for iii br nging the cutters into active position whereby acutter will continue the work of the preceding cutter upon the loweringand rotation of the tool.

19. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and comprising a cutter support, series of cutters spacedapart vertically on the support and movable into active and inactivepositions, the cutters of each series being of a length to extend outradially to the outside of the pipe to be cut when the cutters of theseries are in active position so as to completely remove a section ofthe pipe upon rotation of the tool and means for bringing the respectiveseries of cutters into active position successively whereby a series ofcutters will continue the work oi the preceding series upon the loweringand rotation of the tool.

20. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a.pipe in a well and comprising a cutter support, series of cuttersspaced apart vertically on the support and movable into active andinactive positions, the cutters of each series being of a length toextend out radially to the outside of the pipe to be cut when thecutters of the series are in active position so as to completely removea section of the pipe upon rotation of the tool and hydraulicallyoperable means for bringing the respective series of cutters into activeposition whereby a series of cutters will continue the work of thepreceding series upon the lowering and rotation of the tool.

21. A cutting tool adapted to cut by rotation and shaped to enter a pipein a well and coinprising a cutter support, series of cutters spacedapart vertically on the support and movable into active and inactivepositions, the cutters of each series being of a length to extend outradially to the outside 01 the pipe to be cut when the cutters of saidseries are in active position so as to completely remove a section ofpipe upon rotation of the tool and means for bringing the series 01'cutters into active position whereby a series of cutters will continuethe work of the preceding series upon the lowering and rotation of thetool.

GEORGE J. BARRETT. SOS'I'HENE ROBICHAUX.

